Thank-you for not flushing; City says no to wet wipes

Mauch said the wipes don’t break down quickly or properly and can get caught in the system.

The wipes become magnets for oils, fats and grease that get incorrectly dumped down the drain by many residents, causing major blockages and even sewer backups.

If the sewer backs up into your home because of this, or because of a neighbour flushing things like this down the toilet, you’re the one on the hook for the clean up and repairs of your home and sewer lines.

“It gets in pumps, it gets in the pipe networks, it blocks people’s sewer services and it creates thousands of dollars of damage in a person’s home if there’s a sewer backup,” said Mauch.

There is no standardized testing for these wipes to make sure they will break down in the sewer system.

With no requirements, Mauch said wipes can claim to be ‘flushable’ when they shouldn’t be flushed at all.

“There’s no guarantee that just because it says ‘flushable’ wipes on the package that it’s actually designed to work with the sewer system,” said Mauch.

The city recommends human waste, toilet paper and water should be the only things getting flushed.

Mauch said wet wipes aren’t the only problem. He asks residents to stop pouring oils, fats and grease down the drains, as well as other material.

The city says they’ve found everything from cutlery and clothing to broom handles and concrete in the sewer system.

by Leah Murray

Thank-you for not flushing; City says no to wet wipes

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